Transition section for electrical trolley apparatus



0a. 14, 1947. B. W. 'BENBQW I 2,428,957

TRANSITION SECTION FOR ELECTRICAL TROLLEY APPARATUS Fild Dec. 26, 1944FIE; 2

I ZNVENTOR. Burbs 14/. fienbaw ATTORNE Y Patented Oct. 14, 1947TRANSITION SECTION FOR ELECTRICAL TROLLEY APPARATUS Burtis W. Benbovv,Benbow, Calif.

Application December 26, 1944, Serial No. 569,785

3 Claims.

This invention relates generally to electrical trolley apparatus such asis suitable for use with hoists, cranes, locomotives and the like.

In my Patent No. 2,255,874, there is disclosed a novel type ofelectrical trolley apparatus utilizing a conductor assembly having atrolley wire or conductor enclosed within a sheath of insulatingmaterial, the sheath having spaced recesses in one side of the samewhich are separated by teeth-like bars of insulating material. Themovable contactin device or trolley box utilized with the conductorassembly is provided with conducting teeth linked together to form anarticulated endless chain, with the teeth entering the recesses to makeelectrical contact with the conductor. A plurality of the teeth engagethe conductor at one time, thus insuring uninterrupted contact withoutarcing. The teeth-like insulating bars which separate the recessestogether with the remainder of the sheath preclude accidental humancontact with the live conductor. provements to this type of equipmentare disclosed in my co-pending applications Serial No. 520 399, filedJanuary 31, 1944, and Serial No. 569 784, filed December 26, 1944.

When installing apparatus of the above type on equipment such as cranes,it is frequently desirable to operate the trolley contacting device ordevices over two or more conductor assemblies which are brought intogeneral alignment, but which are not directly connected together. Thuswhere an industrial building is equipped with a plurality of cranes,each intended to operate principally over a designated floor section,one may desire to shift a crane carriage from its principal trackway, tothe trackway of a crane for an adjacent section. To carry out such anoperation the two crane bridge girders carrying the crane trackways arebrought into alignment and locked together end to end, thus bringingthetrolley conductors into alignment to permit the crane carriages togetherwith their trolley contacting devices, to operate over the extendedtwo-crane trackway. 'A somewhat similar operation is frequently carriedout for transferring a crane carriage from one crane bridge to another,but which is referred to as switching as distinguished from establishingan interlock, for the first described operation. In switching the endsof trolley conductors are brought into alignment, although one conductorforms the leg of a switch which can be shifted to enable trolleycontacting devices to move over trolley conductors which are broughtinto alignment with the ends of the switching leg.

It will be appreciated that trolley apparatus of the type firstdescribed involves certain problems when it isv installed forinterlocking and switching operations, due to the fact that theregularly spaced insulating teeth on the sheath, which cooperate withconducting teeth on the trolley device, necessitate accurate alignmentand. positioning of the adjacent conductor assemblies to enablethetrolley contacting devices to pass smoothly from one conductorassembly to the next. The mechanical devices used to secure alignmentare incapable of or cannot be relied upon to maintain alignment to ahigh degree of accuracy.

In general it is an object of the invention to provide an improvedconductor assembly of the type described which can be used successfullyfor interlocking and switching operations.

Further objects of the invention Will appear from the followingdescription in which the preferred embodiments have been set forth indetail in conjunction. with the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevationalview, partly in crosssection, illustratingapparatus incorporating the present invention.

Fig; 2 is a side elevational view, on an enlarged scale, partly incross-section, showing a conductor assembly such as is incorporated inthe apparatus of Fig, 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the assembly shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the assembly shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional detail taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional detail taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

The apparatus shown in Fig. 1 consists generally of two conductorassemblies I Ga and ltlb, each of which is associated with the bridgegirder of a crane. A contacting device I I, of the type disclosed andclaimed in my Patent No. 2,255,874, is arranged to operate along one ofthe assemblies Illa or lb, or from one assembly tothe other, when thetwo are in alignment as illustrated.

Each of the conductor assemblies is preferably constructed asillustrated in detail in Figs. 2 to 6 inclusive. Thus the trolleyconductor I 2 is surrounded by the protectlve shroud I3 of insulatingmaterial, which in turn is carried by the backing ll of relatively rigidconstruction. The insulating material is preferably somewhat resilientin character, as for example vulcanized natural or synthetic rubber, orlike synthetic material such as neoprene. Briefly the shroud includesthe side portions I4 which are joined below their conductor I2 by thespaced bar-like portions I5. Portions I5 are preferably shapedsubstantially as shown in Fig. 2, to form in effect gear-like teeth. Thespaces I6 between the teeth enable access for direct electrical contactwith the conductor I2. A sheath of this type is disclosed in my PatentNo. 2,255,874 for use with a contacting device II making use ofconductor teeth linked together as an endless chain.

The backing H for the sheath I3 can be made of pressed metalsubstantially as disclosed and claimed in my co-pending applicationSerial No. 569,784, filed Dec. 26, 1944, Briefly thesheet metal formingthis backing is bent to substantially T- shaped form, to provide ribportions I8 and laterally extending track portions I9. Thetrackportionshave turned over or crimped edges 2 I which serve to grip ribs 22provided upon the upper side quarters of the shroud. The two metal wallsforming the ribbed portion I8 are spaced apart to provide for greaterrigidity, and to enable insertion of attaching devices as will bepresently described.

Each of the assemblies Illa, IIlb has attached to it an end transferportion 26a, 26b of special construction. Referring to Figs. 2 and 6 thetransfer portion 26a includes a body 21 formed of suitable insulatingmaterial, such as a molded phenolic condensate or like plastic product.The depending sides 28 of the body form a continuation of the sideportions I4 of the assembly 16a. These portions are also connected byteeth such as will be presently described. The upper part of the body isformed to provide the rib 29 as an extension of the rib I8 of assemblyloci, and also to form parallel surfaces 3I which are on the same levelas surfaces l9, and which form an extension of the same. Suitable meanscan be provided for attaching portion 26a to the assembly Illa. Thus afiat metal strip 32 is imbedded within the rib 29, and has a tongue-likeextension 33 adapted to be accommodated within the rib I8 of theassembly Illa. Rivets or screws 34 can be extended through the rib I8and the tongue 33, to retain these parts together.

The conductor I2a within transfer portion 26a is bonded fast to themolded body 21 and is coupled to the main conductor I2 as by means of athreaded connection 35. Conductor I2 is preferably free to turn or slidewith respect to its sheath I3.

Before explaining the manner in which the teeth of portion 26a areformed, it should be pointed out that the contacting device II asdisclosed in said Patent No. 2,255,874 makes use of a plurality of teeth36 which are connected together by links 31, to form an articulatedendless chain. The end loops of the chain are retained upon the sheaves38, and the lower faces of the upper run of the teeth are contacted by aspring pressed bus bar 39. The teeth 36 are accommodated within therecesses 66 to make continuous electrical contact with the lower side ofthe conductor I2. Normally the spacing between teeth I5 is such that theteeth 36 enter and leave the recesses i6, without undue play between theteeth I5 and the teeth 36 such as would result if the recesses I6 had awidth greatly in excess of the effective width of the teeth 36. In thepresent arrangement the teeth 36 in registry within associated recessesI6 are held in firm tue of flanged tracking rollers or wheels 4| whichengage the two parallel track surfaces I 9. These rollers are journaledto the upper ends of straps 42, which in turn are mounted upon thehousing of the contacting device I I.

It will be apparent that the number of teeth 36 which are in engagementwith the conductor I2 at any one instant will depend upon theconstruction of the device II. However in this instance it will be notedthat six teeth are in contact, and that the span of these teeth isgreater than the length of each of the end transfer portions 26a and261), but somewhat less than the combined length of portions 25a and 26bAs shown in Fig. 2 the portion 26a is provided with four teethseparately numbered 43 to 45 inclusive. Tooth 46 is of a width greatlyless than the teeth I5, as for example about one-half the width of teethit as illustrated. Teeth 43, 44 and 45 are dimensioned to progressivelydecreasing widths intermediate teeth It and 46. Tooth 46 also hasa'rounded end portion. The distance between the centers of teeth 43 to46 remains the same as for the teeth I5. The center of tooth 45 islocated a distance from the end face 41' which is one-half the normaldistance between centers of teeth i5, less one-half the mean gap 48,between adjacent portions 26a, 26b, as aligned in Fig. 1. In addition tomaking the teeth of portion 25a of progressively decreasing width, it isdesirable to form the inner contour line 49 for the side portions 23divergent near the end face 47, as shown by the bottom plan view of Fig.4. This serves to accommodate a small amount of lateral misalignment aswill be presently described.

Operation of the apparatus described above can be outlined as follows:Referring first to Fig. 1 it is assumed that the two assemblies Ida andI 6b are mounted as by means of brackets 55a and 5 lb to the bridgegirders of two adjacent crane installations of an industrial building.Generally two or more conductor assemblies will be carried by the bridgegirders of one crane, with a contacting device It for each conductorassembly, in order to complete a single or polyphase electrical circuitto the crane motor or motors. When it is desired to secure conjoint useof two adjacent cranes, their bridge girders are aligned and lockedtogether. This serves to bring the assemblies Illa and Ilib insubstantial alignment, with a gap 48 between the transfer portions 26a,23b, the width of which is dependent somewhat upon the tolerancesinherent in the locking mechanism. Now as the carriage of one crane iscaused to traverse into the area covered by the second crane, thecontacting device H must pass across the gap 48 without losing contactwith the conductors I2, irrespective of some misalignment, and withoutinterference between the teeth 36 and the insulating teeth. Theconstruction described enables free passage of the contactor device I ifrom one crane area to another, irrespective of some misalignment, byvirtue of the structural features previously described. Assuming thatthe gap 48 is actually considerably less than its mean value, it isevident that the reduced width of the teeth 46 precludes accidentalinterference between this tooth and an approaching conducting tooth 36,because the approaching tooth 36 will still have sufficient space withinwhich to enter in contact with conductor I2. In addition assuming forexample that contacting device II is moving from left to right as viewedin Fig. l, as a tooth 36 first contacts the conductor portion 261), itslocation remains under the control of one of the larger teeth 43 or 44of portion 25a. However as more teeth contact the conductor of portion251), the progressively larger teeth of this portion take control overpositioning of teeth 35, until the last tooth is retracted from theconductor of portion 2611. It will be evident that this arrangementmakes possible free passage of the contacting device H from one cranearea to another, across a gap 48 between conductor assemblies which inpractice may vary as much as say /8 of an inch plus or minus, where thenormal distance between the teeth I5 is of the order of 1% inch. Shouldiere be some misalignment between the conductor assemblies, as viewed inplan, free passage of the contacting device l l is facilitated by virtueof the divergent contour lines 49.

It will be evident from the foregoing that my invention makes possibleuse of shrouded trolley conductors of the type previously described, ininstallations requiring so-called switching or interlock operations. Aspreviously explained in switching operations conductor assemblies arelikewise generally aligned, as in the case of interlock operations.

I claim:

1. In electrical trolley apparatus for use with equipment such ascranes, Where adjacent ends of trolley conductors are aligned forpassage of a trolley contacting device, a conductor assembly including aconductor and a surrounding sheath of insulating material, said sheathbeing formed to provide a plurality of recesses in one side of g thesame for enabling access to the conductor, the recesses being separatedby regularly spaced teeth-like portions of insulating material, an endportion of the sheath at theend of the conductor having a plurality ofsaid teeth formed with progressively decreased Width in the direction ofthe length of the conductor, said end portion serving to facilitatetransfer of a contacting device from said assembly to a like formedadjacent aligned assembly.

2. In electrical trolley apparatus for use with equipment such as craneswhere adjacent ends of trolley conductors are aligned for passage of atrolley contacting device and where the trolley contacting device isprovided with articulated conducting teeth adapted to contact theconductor at spaced intervals, a main conductor assembly including atrolley conductor and a surrounding sheath of insulating material, thesheath havin regular spaced recesses extending through one side of thesame to enable the conducting teeth of the trolley device to makeengagement with the-conductor, the recesses being separated by regularlyspaced teeth-like bars of insulating. material, an end transfer portionattached to one end of the main conductor assembly and formin anextension of the same, the transfer portion including a conductorportion forming an extension of the main conductor, a body of insulatingmaterial forming an extension of the sheath of the main conductorassembly, one side of the body of insulating material being providedwith spaced recesses extending through one side of the same to enablethe conducting teeth of the trolley device to make engagement with theconductor, the recesses being separated by teeth corresponding to theteeth of the main sheath and having a distance between centerscorresponding to the distance between centers of the teeth on the mainsheath, the teeth of the transfer portion being of progressivelydecreased width in a direction toward the end of the same therebyfacilitating transfer of the trolley device to an adjacent alignedtransfer portion and main conductor assembly.

3. In electrical trolley apparatus for use with equipment such as craneswhere adjacent ends of trolley conductors are aligned for passage of atrolley contacting device and where the trolley contacting device isprovided with articulated conducting teeth of uniform pitch adapted tocontact the conductor at spaced intervals and connected together to forman endless chain, a main conductor assembly including a trolleyconductor and a surrounding sheath of insulating material, the sheathhavin regularly spaced recesses extending through one side of the sameto enable an aligned number of the conducting teeth of the trolleydevice to make simultaneous engagement with the conductor, the recessesbeing separated by regularly spaced teeth-like bars of uniform pitch andformed of insulating material, an end transfer portion attached to oneend of the main conductor assembly and forming an extension of the same,the transfer portion including a conductor portion forming an extensionof the main conductor, a body of insulating material forming anextension of the sheath of the main conductor assembly, one side of thebody of insulating material being recessed to enable the conductingteeth of the trolley to make engagement with the conductor, the recessbeing interrupted by a tooth extending laterally of the conductorextension and having a width substantially less than the width of theteeth of the main conductor assembly, the distance between the center ofsaid tooth and the nearest tooth of the main conductor assembly bein amultiple of the distance between centers of teeth of the main conductorassembly, and being substantially less than the total length of saidaligned conducting teeth.

BURTIS W. BENBOW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,255,874 Benbow Sept. 16, 1941873,522 Eddowes Dec, 10, 1907 1,201,321 McCausland Oct. 17, 19162,304,720 Wehr Dec. 8, 1942 772,679 Sperry Oct. 18, 1904 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 444,521 France June 1912 279,970 Germany Nov. 11,1913

